Member Profile - Cron Mackay

In brief:

• Member of Leith Rotary since: July 1988
• Rotary Hall of Fame: the instigator of the Dragon Boat Races – Leith docks’ most colourful event for the 5 years it ran; member of Leith Rotary curling team.
• Special interest / skill: Cron’s history in Leith Rotary shows there is no project he thinks is “too big” – but he always stresses it takes a team to make success.

“We can only do our job if we know what is going on in our community”

When Cron Mackay was first nominated to become a Rotarian, prospective members were not told they were being considered. At that time, Rotary Clubs were comprised of one representative from local businesses, and he found out his father had not been nominated because there were already other printers and stationers in the Club. However Cron had been tasked by the family business of building a new part of the business to ensure it survived changes to printing technology, and so he was eligible and nominated.

Cron took to the spirit of Rotary, inspired by the strong Rotary history in Leith. “What we’re doing is nothing compared to people before us,” he says, pointing to one of the earliest achievements of Leith Rotary to renovate Lamb’s House as Leith Old People’s Welfare Centre. “What Rotary raised would have bought around 5 houses in Leith at that time, so think what that would be worth today.”

When Cron first joined, fundraising was primarily through business connections and social events. Cron says “I am rather gullible and happy to let myself in for whatever is offered. Afterwards I usually enjoy being involved,” but Cron himself has been at the forefront of expanding the Club’s fundraising to include major community events, such as the Leith Pageant, the Tall Ships welcome and the Dragon Boat Races. These events built community spirit by their existence, but over the years have also raised significant cash, with the best Dragon Boat event brining in over £20k for Leith Rotary local distribution, and more than £60k directly for the charities taking part. “I have had great fun and satisfaction. I got involved with most projects – especially fundraising.” 

Cron's background in business has been put to good use when Rotary was asked to support a fledgling business by local Corporate Member, Ocean Terminal. Along with another Rotary member who was an experienced Finance Director, and another who was an Engineer, the early-stage business was supported towards a sustainable future. "It was a Rotary Project. Isabel and I taught them accounts and book-keeping. Jim, as a retired engineer showed them how to do a health and safety audit. We basically held their hands for a few months and put the company on a secure path." 

Cron is a historian. He can chronicle Leith Rotary’s development from the early Lamb’s House appeal days, to introducing Scotland’s first women Rotarians (Maggie Allan and then Isobel Kane and Eileen Brownlie). He recalls that other Rotary Clubs frowned on change and during one particular club visit, members of the other club assumed Leith’s women Rotarians were waitresses!  Leith was also one of the first Rotary Clubs to introduce a Friends of the Rotary scheme. Cron’s trailblazing has paved the way for the modern and friendly club it is today. “It does worry me that Rotary can seem rather outdated and set in their ways – but in Leith our respect for tradition is tempered with a healthy consideration that rules should be understood and ignored if necessary.”

Cron’s adventures with the Rotary have often centred around Curling. His passion for the sport led him to become a coach as well as a player. With kindred spirits in Leith Rotary, curling has taken him to Canada and the United States. “We managed to win the Rotary Curling Championship whilst Sinclair Campbell’s wife was suffering from terminal cancer. We had come so close so often, it was wonderful to do it for her.” He continues to share the sport with Leith Rotary newcomers.

Cron’s modesty about all his achievements means this profile can only be written with the strict caveat that Leith Rotary could not have achieved anything without its strong network of community leaders and the team work of the Rotarians themselves. “The power of the Rotary is not the money we raise, it is how clubs link into their community.”

He describes how Rotary can respond internationally across borders to respond to disaster, and the 36-hour supply of shelters to tsunami victims which is now regularly replicated in response to natural disasters around the world. At a local level, he described how local headteachers, doctors and Police members of the Rotary have helped the Leith Club to target disadvantage and step in when needed – and to found other institutions for the good of the community, such as Port of Leith Housing.

“It is a very large, very International group of non-political people. When they agree about a problem and collectively try to fix it, they can achieve great things, and on a few occasions, actually do.”